Mamata Banerjee govt hands over 'land parchas', cheques to Singur farmers

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Mamata Banerjee government on Wednesday handed over land parcha, cheques to farmers in Singur as per the Supreme Court ruling directing return of land within 12 weeks.

The West Bengal chief minister had made the promise during the 2011 Assembly polls campaigning, at the height of the Singur movement, against “forcible” land acquisition by the erstwhile Left Front government in the state.

Although, Banerjee, after coming to power, had taken administrative steps to return the land to the “unwilling” farmers, those where challenged in the court of law.

After a prolonged legal battle, the Supreme Court, on August 31, ruled that the land acquisition process in Singur was faulty and directed that it be returned to the farmers within 12 weeks.

Singur holds a special place in Banerjee’s political career as it was on this issue that she had held a 26-day fast in 2010.